In our latest SR&EDI seminar Dr Hawys Williams demonstrated that at the Faculty of Biology, Medicine, and Health (FBMH), social responsibility is not just a concept—it is a guiding principle integrated into every aspect of the institution. Professor Mahesh Nirmalan, Ex-Vice Dean for Social Responsibility and Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion, emphasized that “Social Responsibility is a construct that is fully embedded within all core functions of our Faculty.” This commitment is brought to life through the “Three E’s”: Engaging, Enabling, and Evidencing. These pillars form the foundation of the faculty’s approach to embedding social responsibility and civic engagement (SRCE) in its daily operations.

Engaging: Connecting and Empowering Communities

The first pillar, Engaging, focuses on building meaningful connections with communities, staff, and students. FBMH actively promotes social responsibility by creating platforms for communication and participation.

• Blogs and Social Responsibility Digest: The faculty shares success stories and ongoing initiatives through platforms such as the SRBMH blog and Social Responsibility Digest. These platforms foster awareness and encourage staff and students to actively engage with social responsibility projects.
• Webpages, Newsletters, and Campaigns: Dedicated webpages and newsletters on Social Responsibility (SR)and Environmental Sustainability (ES) keep the FBMH community updated on campaigns like #CountMeIn, which promotes inclusivity and accountability. These tools ensure that social responsibility is a visible, collective effort.
• Networks and Forums: Engagement is further strengthened through networks and forums that provide spaces for discussion and collaboration. These allow faculty members, students, and external partners to share ideas, build partnerships, and address social responsibility issues together.

Enabling: Providing Tools for Action

The second pillar, Enabling, is about giving people the resources and support needed to turn social responsibility ideas into action. FBMH recognizes that for social responsibility to be sustainable and impactful, the right systems must be in place to support these efforts.

• Equality Impact Assessments (EIA) Workshops: The faculty offers workshops and resources to guide researchers and staff in understanding the potential impacts of their work on equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI). This ensures that all research and engagement activities consider social responsibility at every stage.
• Governance and Diversity Frameworks: FBMH has developed a governance structure that prioritizes social responsibility and inclusivity. The faculty has earned several Charter Marks, including the Athena SWAN and Race Equality Charter, which reflect its commitment to fostering an inclusive environment.
• Service Learning and Volunteering: Students are enabled to actively participate in civic engagement through service learning and volunteering opportunities. These experiences allow them to apply academic knowledge in real-world contexts, benefiting both the students and the communities they serve.

Evidencing: Measuring and Demonstrating Impact

The third pillar, Evidencing, ensures that FBMH’s social responsibility initiatives are not only implemented but also evaluated for impact. It focuses on collecting data, tracking progress, and providing evidence that these efforts make a real difference.

• Reporting Systems: FBMH uses systems like PURE for research and the Quality Mark for Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement (PPIE) to ensure transparency and accountability. These systems allow the faculty to measure how well its projects are meeting social responsibility goals.
• Charter Marks and Impact Rankings: The faculty’s success in social responsibility is validated through achievements like the HEBCIS reports and Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings, which assess universities’ contributions to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These measures help FBMH align its efforts with global sustainability and equality objectives.
• Sustainability and Equality Benchmarks: FBMH’s environmental sustainability efforts are guided by the LEAF framework (Laboratory Efficiency Assessment Framework) and the 6R principles (Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Recover, and Rethink). These frameworks provide measurable outcomes that demonstrate the faculty’s commitment to reducing its environmental footprint.

Looking to the Future: A 10-Year Strategy to 2035

As FBMH looks toward 2035, the faculty has set ambitious goals to further embed Social Responsibility across its activities. The 10-year strategy emphasizes inclusive and sustainable teaching, research, and community engagement.

• Inclusive and Sustainable Teaching: The faculty aims to make education more inclusive and aligned with sustainable development principles, ensuring that all students are equipped with the knowledge and skills to contribute to a socially responsible future.
• Global Health and Partnerships: FBMH also focuses on global health, partnering with international organizations like those in Kenya to improve health outcomes and tackle inequities on a global scale.

In summary, FBMH’s social responsibility strategy, built on the pillars of Engaging, Enabling, and Evidencing, ensures that social responsibility is deeply embedded within the institution. Through active engagement, resource provision, and a commitment to measuring impact, the faculty is creating a culture of inclusivity, sustainability, and civic engagement. As FBMH moves toward its 2035 goals, it continues to demonstrate that universities can be powerful agents of positive change, not only in local communities but across the globe.

You can watch the recording of this seminar here.

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